An Israeli court has extended the detention of two activists arrested aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla, by another six days, on Tuesday (May 5).

Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national, and Brazilian Thiago Avila were detained by Israeli authorities on April 29, and brought to Israel, while more than 100 other pro-Palestinian activists aboard the boats were taken to the Greek island of Crete.

Abu Keshek and Avila's detention had initially been extended until Tuesday but the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court extended the remand until May 10.

The activists were part of a second Global Sumud flotilla, launched in an attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance. The ships had set sail from Barcelona on April 12.

Court documents show that Israel accuses Abu Keshek and Avila of offences including aiding the enemy, contact with a foreign agent and a terrorist organisation, prohibited activity involving a terrorist component, and providing means to a terrorist organisation.

Israel's foreign ministry has said that Abu Keshek and Avila are linked to Palestinian militant group Hamas, and that the flotilla "is another provocation designed to divert attention from Hamas' refusal to disarm."

"We see this as an attempt to criminalize any solidarity with the Palestinian people and any attempt to break the illegal siege on Gaza," said their lawyer Hadeek Abu Salih.

A ministry spokesperson denied "false and baseless claims" of torture.

"Following violent physical obstruction by Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila against Israeli staff members, staff were compelled to act in order to stop these actions. All measures taken were in accordance with the law," the spokesperson said.

Due to the hunger strikes, the court ordered Israel's Prison Service to monitor the medical condition of the detainees.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ASHKELON, ISRAEL (MAY 5, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. SIGN OUTSIDE OF ISRAELI TRIAL COURT IN ASHKELON

2. PEOPLE OUTSIDE COURTHOUSE

3. BRAZILIAN THIAGO AVILA BEING LED INTO ISRAELI COURTROOM FOR A HEARING OF EXTENSION OF HIS DETENTION AFTER HE WAS DETAINED AT SEA ON BOARD OF A GAZA-BOUND FLOTILLA

4. AVILA

5. AVILA WITH POLICE IN COURTROOM

6. SPANISH NATIONAL OF PALESTINIAN ORIGIN, SAIF ABU KESHEK BEING LED INTO ISRAELI COURTROOM FOR A HEARING OF EXTENSION OF HIS DETENTION AFTER HE WAS DETAINED AT SEA ON BOARD OF A GAZA-BOUND FLOTILLA

7. ABU KESHEK

8. ABU KESHEK WITH POLICE IN COURTROOM

9. PEOPLE OUTSIDE COURTROOM

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER REPRESENTING THE TWO DETAINEES, HADEEL ABU SALIH, SAYING:

"Today the court granted a second extension in the legal detention of both Thiago and Saif. The court granted a six day extension, which means the next hearing will be on Sunday."

11. LAWYER HADEEL ABU SALIH OUTSIDE COURTROOM

12. ABU SALIH

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER REPRESENTING THE TWO DETAINEES, HADEEL ABU SALIH, SAYING:

"We made it clear before the court today, that first of all, we are talking about an illegal detention, that must end now and that they both must be released immediately and without any conditions, especially that we are talking about two foreign nationals that were arrested in international waters approximately a thousand kilometres away from Gaza and brought into Israel against their will."

14. PEOPLE IN COURTROOM

15. ABU SALIH IN COURTROOM

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER REPRESENTING THE TWO DETAINEES, HADEEL ABU SALIH, SAYING:

"We also talked about the detention conditions, which amount to psychological torture, since both Thiago and Saif are both kept in isolation, since they were moved to the custody of the Israeli prison services, and are blindfolded each time they are taken out of the cell even when they go through a medical procedure which also violates the most basic medical, ethical standards."

17. ABU SALIH SPEAKING TO REPORTERS

18. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER REPRESENTING THE TWO DETAINEES, HADEEL ABU SALIH, SAYING:

"We see this as an attempt to criminalize any solidarity with the Palestinian people and any attempt to break the illegal siege on Gaza."

19. ABU SALIH SPEAKING TO REPORTERS

20. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER REPRESENTING THE TWO DETAINEES, HADEEL ABU SALIH, SAYING:

"We've been told by Thiago and Saif that they are trying all the time to connect the humanitarian aid with Hamas, and to present it as a service to Hamas, as a 'terrorist organisation'."

21. WHITE FLASH

22. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER REPRESENTING THE TWO DETAINEES, HADEEL ABU SALIH, SAYING:

"They said a terror organisation, didn't specify what organisation, but we assume that they are and accordingly to the questions that they have been pointing to the two that they are trying to connect the flotillas with terror organisations."

23. SECURITY CLOSING DOOR TO COURTROOM